The question posed by Christians is, how is Jesus a Muslim according to the Qur’an, alternatively where did Jesus call himself a Muslim?
Firstly, the
word Muslim means one who submits to Allah Swt and the Messenger, Prophet
Muhammed Pbuh. Secondly, Muslims believe all Prophets are Muslims without a
shadow of a doubt. Jesus Pbuh is not an exception. Thirdly, Muslims follow both
Qur’an and Sunnah [sayings and teachings of Prophet Muhammed Pbuh]. The Qur’an is
clear, Allah Swt is One and He alone is to be Worshipped without associating
and partners. Again, as Sunni Muslims we take both Qur’an and Sunnah.
Now that we’ve
established a foundation what Muslim means [submitting or surrendering oneself to
Allah Swt and the Messenger Prophet Muhammed Pbuh] let us apply this to Jesus Pbuh using both Qur’an
and Hadith.
[Jesus]
said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture
and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has
enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive” [Surah 19:30-31]
Surely someone
claiming to be a servant of Allah would be classed as a Muslim wouldn’t you
agree? It continues, both prayer [Salah] and zakah [obligatory charity] has
been enjoined upon him. A servant of Allah who prays and give charity ticks the
boxes of Muslim. Let us continue.
They have
certainly disbelieved who say, "Allah is the Messiah, the son of
Mary" while the Messiah has said, "O Children of Israel, worship
Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates others with Allah
– Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there
are not for the wrongdoers any helpers.[Surah 5:72]
Interesting,
the person Christians make God, the Qur’an is informing us how He preached to
Worship the One and Only True ALLAH, that anyone who associates partners with
Allah Swt the Jannah [Paradise] is forbidden for him. Surely this sounds like something
a Muslim would say, wouldn’t you agree?
But when Jesus
felt [persistence in] disbelief from them, he said, "Who are my supporters
for [the cause of] Allah?" The disciples said, "We are supporters for
Allah. We have believed in Allah and testify that we are Muslims [submitting to
Him]. [Surah 3:52]
Here we read the disciples of Jesus Pbuh, testified they are the
supporters of Allah Swt i.e., conveying the message of Islam that Allah is One
and to Worship him alone without associating ant partners and to inform others
of the advent of Prophet Muhammed Pbuh. Calling themselves Muslims in the
presence of Jesus Pbuh and not being admonished seems to say something, wouldn’t
you agree?
And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O
Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what
came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come
after me, whose name is Ahmed." But when he came to them with clear
evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic." [Surah 61:6]
Jesus Pbuh spoke
to the Children of Israel, informing them of the Messenger who would come after
him, whose name would be Ahmed. One of the names of Prophet Muhammed Pbuh is
Ahmed as mention in the hadith Sahih
al-Bukhari 3532.
Now let us move
to a few Ahadith.
Abu Huraira reported many ahadith from Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and one is that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said:
I am
most close to Jesus, son of Mary, among the whole of mankind in this worldly
life and the next life. They said: Allah's Messenger how is it? Thereupon he
said: Prophets are brothers in faith, having different mothers. Their
religion is, however, one and there is no Apostle between us (between I and
Jesus Christ).
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا
عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، قَالَ
هَذَا مَا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
فَذَكَرَ أَحَادِيثَ مِنْهَا وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم "
أَنَا أَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِعِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ فِي الأُولَى وَالآخِرَةِ
" . قَالُوا كَيْفَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " الأَنْبِيَاءُ
إِخْوَةٌ مِنْ عَلاَّتٍ وَأُمَّهَاتُهُمْ شَتَّى وَدِينُهُمْ وَاحِدٌ فَلَيْسَ
بَيْنَنَا نَبِيٌّ " .
|
Reference |
: Sahih Muslim 2365c |
Prophet Muhammed
Pbuh said all Prophets are brothers in faith, having different mothers. Question
is, what is faith? Let us find out from Prophet Muhammed Pbuh.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
One
day while the Prophet (ﷺ)
was sitting in the company of some people, (The angel) Gabriel came and asked, "What
is faith?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, 'Faith is to
believe in Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to
believe in Resurrection." Then he further asked, "What
is Islam?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To worship Allah Alone and
none else, to offer prayers perfectly to pay the compulsory charity (Zakat) and
to observe fasts during the month of Ramadan." Then he further asked,
"What is Ihsan (perfection)?" Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) replied, "To
worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot achieve this state of
devotion then you must consider that He is looking at you." Then he
further asked, "When will the Hour be established?" Allah's Messenger
(ﷺ) replied, "The
answerer has no better knowledge than the questioner. But I will inform you
about its portents.
1.
When a slave (lady) gives birth to her master.
2.
When the shepherds of black camels start boasting and competing with others in
the construction of higher buildings. And the Hour is one of five things which
nobody knows except Allah.
The
Prophet (ﷺ)
then recited: "Verily, with Allah (Alone) is the knowledge of the
Hour--." (31. 34) Then that man (Gabriel) left and the Prophet (ﷺ) asked his companions to
call him back, but they could not see him. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "That was
Gabriel who came to teach the people their religion." Abu 'Abdullah said:
He (the Prophet) considered all that as a part of faith.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، قَالَ
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو حَيَّانَ
التَّيْمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ
النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَارِزًا يَوْمًا لِلنَّاسِ، فَأَتَاهُ جِبْرِيلُ
فَقَالَ مَا الإِيمَانُ قَالَ " الإِيمَانُ أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ
وَمَلاَئِكَتِهِ وَبِلِقَائِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْبَعْثِ ".
قَالَ مَا الإِسْلاَمُ قَالَ " الإِسْلاَمُ أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ
تُشْرِكَ بِهِ، وَتُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةَ، وَتُؤَدِّيَ الزَّكَاةَ الْمَفْرُوضَةَ،
وَتَصُومَ رَمَضَانَ ". قَالَ مَا الإِحْسَانُ قَالَ " أَنْ
تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ
يَرَاكَ ". قَالَ مَتَى السَّاعَةُ قَالَ " مَا الْمَسْئُولُ
عَنْهَا بِأَعْلَمَ مِنَ السَّائِلِ، وَسَأُخْبِرُكَ عَنْ أَشْرَاطِهَا إِذَا
وَلَدَتِ الأَمَةُ رَبَّهَا، وَإِذَا تَطَاوَلَ رُعَاةُ الإِبِلِ الْبُهْمُ فِي
الْبُنْيَانِ، فِي خَمْسٍ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ". ثُمَّ
تَلاَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم
|
Reference |
: Sahih
al-Bukhari 50 |
From the
above hadith faith is explained as : 'Faith is to believe in
Allah, His angels, (the) meeting with Him, His Apostles, and to believe in Resurrection."
Note, Prophets brothers in faith. The faith of Jesus Pbuh will include
the above. Would you not agree this applies to the belief of a Muslim?
Narrated
Malik bin Sasaa:
That the
Prophet (ﷺ) talked to them about the
night of his Ascension to the Heavens. He said, "(Then Gabriel took me)
and ascended up till he reached the second heaven where he asked for the gate
to be opened, but it was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel replied, 'I am Gabriel.'
It was asked, 'Who is accompanying you?' He replied, 'Muhammad.' It was asked,
'Has he been called?' He said, 'Yes.' When we reached over the second
heaven, I saw Yahya (i.e. John) and Jesus who were cousins. Gabriel said,
'These are John (Yahya) and Jesus, so greet them.' I greeted them and they
returned the greeting saying, 'Welcome, O Pious Brother and Pious Prophet!;'
"
حَدَّثَنَا هُدْبَةُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا
هَمَّامُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ
مَالِكِ بْنِ صَعْصَعَةَ، أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَدَّثَهُمْ
عَنْ لَيْلَةَ أُسْرِيَ " ثُمَّ صَعِدَ حَتَّى أَتَى السَّمَاءَ
الثَّانِيَةَ فَاسْتَفْتَحَ، قِيلَ مَنْ هَذَا قَالَ جِبْرِيلُ. قِيلَ وَمَنْ
مَعَكَ قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ. قِيلَ وَقَدْ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ.
فَلَمَّا خَلَصْتُ، فَإِذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى وَهُمَا ابْنَا خَالَةٍ. قَالَ
هَذَا يَحْيَى وَعِيسَى فَسَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِمَا. فَسَلَّمْتُ فَرَدَّا ثُمَّ
قَالاَ مَرْحَبًا بِالأَخِ الصَّالِحِ وَالنَّبِيِّ الصَّالِحِ ".
|
Reference |
: Sahih al-Bukhari 3430 |
Prophet Muhammed
Pbuh being greeted by both John [Yahya As] and Jesus Pbuh on the second heaven,
this was during Prophet Muhammed Pbuh Ascension to Heaven [Miraj]. Both
Prophets calling Prophet Muhammed Pbuh “Pious Brother and Pious
Prophet”. Without a doubt they were both Muslim or why say “Pious Brother and
Pious Prophet”?
Abu
Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
By Him
in Whose hand is my life, the son of Mary (ﷺ) will soon descend among you as a just judge. He will break
crosses, kill swine and abolish Jizya and the wealth will pour forth to such
an extent that no one will accept it.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا
لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ
شِهَابٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي
بِيَدِهِ لَيُوشِكَنَّ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ فِيكُمُ ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ صلى الله عليه وسلم
حَكَمًا مُقْسِطًا فَيَكْسِرَ الصَّلِيبَ وَيَقْتُلَ الْخِنْزِيرَ وَيَضَعَ
الْجِزْيَةَ وَيَفِيضَ الْمَالُ حَتَّى لاَ يَقْبَلَهُ أَحَدٌ " .
|
Reference |
: Sahih Muslim
155a |
Which Christian
would break the cross?
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said "How will you be
when the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you and he will judge
people by the Law of the Quran and not by the law of Gospel (Fateh-ul Bari
page 304 and 305 Vol 7)
Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 55 :: Hadith
658
If Jesus is not a Muslim, why then would he
judge people using the law of the Qur’an and not gospel? Only a Muslim would use
the Qur’an and Sunnah and reject any other books of different faith.
Narrated Al-Harith
Al-Ash'ari:
that the Messenger of
Allah (ﷺ) said:
"Indeed Allah commanded Yahya bin Zakariyya with five commandments to
abide by, and to command the Children of Isra'il to abide by them. But he was
slow in doing so. So 'Eisa said: 'Indeed Allah commanded you with five
commandments to abide by and to command the Children of Isra'il to abide by.
Either you command them, or I shall command them.' So Yahya said: 'I fear that
if you precede me in this, then the earth may swallow me, or I shall be
punished.' So he gathered the people in Jerusalem, and they filled [the Masjid]
and sat upon its balconies. So he said: 'Indeed Allah has commanded me with
five commandments to abide by, and to command you to abide by. The first of
them is that you worship Allah and not associate anything with him. The parable
of the one who associates others with Allah is that of a man who buys a servant
with his own gold or silver, then he says to him: "This is my home and
this is my business so take care of it and give me the profits." So he
takes care of it and gives the profits to someone other than his master. Which
of you would live to have a servant like that? And Allah commands you to
perform Salat, and when you perform Salat then do not turn away, for Allah is
facing the face of His worshipers as long as he does not turn away. And He
commands you with fasting. For indeed the parable of fasting, is that of a man
in a group with a sachet containing musk. All of them enjoy its fragrance.
Indeed the breath of the fasting person is more pleasant to Allah than the
scent of musk. And He commands you to give charity. The parable of that, is a
man captured by his enemies, tying his hands to his neck, and they come to him
to beat his neck. Then he said: "I can ransom myself from you with a
little or a lot" so he ransoms himself from them. And He commands you to remember
Allah. For indeed the parable of that, is a man whose enemy quickly tracks him
until he reaches an impermeable fortress in which he protects himself from
them. This is how the worshiper is; he does not protect himself from
Ash-Shaitan except by the remembrance of Allah.'" The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "And I command you with five
that Allah commanded me: Listening and obeying, Jihad, Hijrah, and the Jama'ah.
For indeed whoever parts from the Jama'ah the measure of a hand-span, then he
has cast off the yoke of Islam from his neck, unless he returns. And whoever
calls with the call of Jahiliyyah then he is from the coals of Hell." A
man said: "O Messenger of Allah! Even if he performs Salat and
fasts?" So he (ﷺ) said:
"Even if he performs Salat and fasts. So call with the call that Allah
named you with: Muslims, believers, worshipers of Allah."
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ،
قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ سَلاَّمٍ، أَنَّ
أَبَا سَلاَّمٍ، حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ الْحَارِثَ الأَشْعَرِيَّ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّ
النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَ يَحْيَى بْنَ
زَكَرِيَّا بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهَا وَيَأْمُرَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ
أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِهَا وَإِنَّهُ كَادَ أَنْ يُبْطِئَ بِهَا فَقَالَ عِيسَى إِنَّ
اللَّهَ أَمَرَكَ بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ لِتَعْمَلَ بِهَا وَتَأْمُرَ بَنِي
إِسْرَائِيلَ أَنْ يَعْمَلُوا بِهَا فَإِمَّا أَنْ تَأْمُرَهُمْ وَإِمَّا أَنَا
آمُرُهُمْ . فَقَالَ يَحْيَى أَخْشَى إِنْ سَبَقْتَنِي بِهَا أَنْ يُخْسَفَ بِي
أَوْ أُعَذَّبَ فَجَمَعَ النَّاسَ فِي بَيْتِ الْمَقْدِسِ فَامْتَلأَ الْمَسْجِدُ
وَقَعَدُوا عَلَى الشُّرَفِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَنِي بِخَمْسِ كَلِمَاتٍ
أَنْ أَعْمَلَ بِهِنَّ وَآمُرَكُمْ أَنْ تَعْمَلُوا بِهِنَّ أَوَّلُهُنَّ أَنْ
تَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَلاَ تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّ مَثَلَ مَنْ أَشْرَكَ
بِاللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اشْتَرَى عَبْدًا مِنْ خَالِصِ مَالِهِ بِذَهَبٍ أَوْ
وَرِقٍ فَقَالَ هَذِهِ دَارِي وَهَذَا عَمَلِي فَاعْمَلْ وَأَدِّ إِلَىَّ فَكَانَ
يَعْمَلُ وَيُؤَدِّي إِلَى غَيْرِ سَيِّدِهِ فَأَيُّكُمْ يَرْضَى أَنْ يَكُونَ
عَبْدُهُ كَذَلِكَ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ أَمَرَكُمْ بِالصَّلاَةِ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمْ
فَلاَ تَلْتَفِتُوا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْصِبُ وَجْهَهُ لِوَجْهِ عَبْدِهِ فِي
صَلاَتِهِ مَا لَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصِّيَامِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ
كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ فِي عِصَابَةٍ مَعَهُ صُرَّةٌ فِيهَا مِسْكٌ فَكُلُّهُمْ يَعْجَبُ
أَوْ يُعْجِبُهُ رِيحُهَا وَإِنَّ رِيحَ الصَّائِمِ أَطْيَبُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ
رِيحِ الْمِسْكِ وَآمُرُكُمْ بِالصَّدَقَةِ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ
أَسَرَهُ الْعَدُوُّ فَأَوْثَقُوا يَدَهُ إِلَى عُنُقِهِ وَقَدَّمُوهُ
لِيَضْرِبُوا عُنُقَهُ فَقَالَ أَنَا أَفْدِيهِ مِنْكُمْ بِالْقَلِيلِ
وَالْكَثِيرِ . فَفَدَى نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَآمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ
فَإِنَّ مَثَلَ ذَلِكَ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ خَرَجَ الْعَدُوُّ فِي أَثَرِهِ سِرَاعًا
حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَى عَلَى حِصْنٍ حَصِينٍ فَأَحْرَزَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْهُمْ كَذَلِكَ
الْعَبْدُ لاَ يُحْرِزُ نَفْسَهُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ إِلاَّ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
" . قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَأَنَا آمُرُكُمْ
بِخَمْسٍ اللَّهُ أَمَرَنِي بِهِنَّ السَّمْعُ وَالطَّاعَةُ وَالْجِهَادُ
وَالْهِجْرَةُ وَالْجَمَاعَةُ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ فَارَقَ الْجَمَاعَةَ قِيدَ شِبْرٍ
فَقَدْ خَلَعَ رِبْقَةَ الإِسْلاَمِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ إِلاَّ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ وَمَنِ
ادَّعَى دَعْوَى الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ جُثَا جَهَنَّمَ " .
فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَإِنْ صَلَّى وَصَامَ قَالَ " وَإِنْ
صَلَّى وَصَامَ فَادْعُوا بِدَعْوَى اللَّهِ الَّذِي سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ " . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ
غَرِيبٌ . قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْحَارِثُ الأَشْعَرِيُّ لَهُ
صُحْبَةٌ وَلَهُ غَيْرُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ .
|
Reference |
: Jami` at-Tirmidhi
2863 |
Below is a
screenshot of the same hadith with this time highlighted showing the relevant
teaching use for this paper. This hadith is an absolute eye-opener.
The hadith shows
how both John [Yahya AS] and Jesus Pbuh preach ISLAM. Yes, the hadith highlight
the pillars of ISLAM. take special not to the highlighted parts and see for
yourself how ISLAM was being preached during the time of Jesus Pbuh. The Children
of Israel have no excuse that the message of Islam did not reach them, as a matter-of-fact
Allah Swt inform us they forgot what was given to them.
And from
those who say, "We are Christians" We took their covenant; but
they forgot a portion of that of which they were reminded. So We caused
among them animosity and hatred until the Day of Resurrection. And Allah is
going to inform them about what they used to do. [Surah 5:14]
Let us break
the hadith down:
1 - Command:
Worship Allah Swt Alone, not to associate any partners.
2 - Command:
To perform Salah [obligatory prayers]
3 - Command:
To Fast [abstain from eating or drinking]
4 - Command:
To give voluntary Charity [supporting people in need]
5 – Command:
To remember Allah Swt. [Keep your faith in Allah Swt]
This is not
ISLAM?
Let us
summarise what have we learnt from both Qur’an and Sunnah on who Jesus Pbuh is.
Jesus Pbuh
Worshipped the One and Only True Allah Swt. He preached his people to Worship
Allah Swt Alone [Surah 5:72]. His disciples testified they would be helpers of
Allah Swt by preaching the message given by Jesus Pbuh and they confessed they
are Muslims [Surah 3:52]. Jesus Pbuh preached the advent of Prophet Muhammed
Pbuh and also met Prophet Muhammed Pbuh calling him “pious brother and pious Prophet”
[Surah 61:6, Bukhari 3430]. Jesus Pbuh during his second coming with break the
cross and judge people using the Laws of the Qur’an not gospel [Muslim 155a]. Jesus
Pbuh performed Salah, Fasted and gave Charity [Surah 19:30-31, Trimidhi 2863].
If Jesus Pbuh
is not a Muslim then what faith was he practicing? Without a shadow of a doubt Jesus
Pbuh is a true Muslim.
